EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Casey Kreiter plays a position where anonymity is good, and recognition normally happens only because of a mistake. But Kreiter received some very welcome attention when his teammates selected him one of the Giants' 10 captains for the 2022 season.
"As a long snapper you kind of do your job," Kreiter said. "And when people don't say your name, that's a good thing. This is one of the times it's good people are saying your name."
The team's other captains are Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and Andrew Thomas on offense, Xavier McKinney, Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence on defense, Graham Gano and Cam Brown on special teams, plus Julian Love, who received numerous votes as both a safety and special teamer.
"He got a good amount of votes on both sides, so he was the last one we announced this morning after the walkthrough," coach Brian Daboll said of Love. "But all well-deserved, I think. All of them exhibit good leadership, and I think that's a testament to them that they're voted on by their peers. So, those will be our captains."
View photos of the New York Giants' 2022 roster as it currently stands.
OL Jack Anderson
DL Ryder Anderson
RB Saquon Barkley
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
G Ben Bredeson
RB Matt Breida
RB Gary Brightwell
LB Cam Brown
TE Lawrence Cager
S Landon Collins
LB Carter Coughlin
LB Jarrad Davis
G Wyatt Davis
DL Justin Ellis
OL Jon Feliciano
CB Cor'Dale Flott
OLB Tomon Fox
K Graham Gano
OL Nick Gates
P Jamie Gillan
G Mark Glowinski
WR Kenny Golladay
WR Isaiah Hodgins
CB Darnay Holmes
CB Adoree' Jackson
WR Richie James
S Tony Jefferson
WR Marcus Johnson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
DL Dexter Lawrence
S Julian Love
CB Nick McCloud
LB Micah McFadden
S Xavier McKinney
DL Henry Mondeaux
CB Fabian Moreau
T Evan Neal
OLB Azeez Ojulari
T Matt Peart
OL Tyre Phillips
S Jason Pinnock
WR Darius Slayton
ILB Jaylon Smith
QB Tyrod Taylor
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
T Andrew Thomas
TE Nick Vannett
OLB Jihad Ward
DL Leonard Williams
CB Rodarius Williams
LB Oshane Ximines
Love said "it's very possible" he picked up some special teams votes when he successfully stepped in as the emergency holder in the preseason victory against Cincinnati on Aug. 28. He assumed the role after Gano suffered a concussion and punter/holder Jamie Gillan replaced him.
"Obviously, as a guy who has played probably the most special teams snaps in this building, I'm excited about it," he said. "I've got a little bit of love from both sides of the ball."
Barkley was selected a captain for the fourth consecutive season, Jones for the third straight year and Gano is a two-time selection. The other seven players are first-time captains.
"Very appreciative to be voted and recognized as a captain," Jones said. "That's something that I take very seriously. I think we all do. To be a captain is a tremendous honor. We've got a lot of great leaders on this team, guys named captain, guys not named captain, I think we've got a lot of great leaders and people who have influence; who all want the same thing, and that's to win."
"It's definitely an honor when your teammates vote you to be one of the leaders on the team," said Thomas, the former first-round draft choice who is entering his third season as the Giants' left tackle. "I don't think it stops there. I'm working every day to be a better leader, to be a better player – not just for the offensive line but for the whole team."
Since his arrival, the public Thomas has been neither talkative nor emotional.
"I'm definitely more of a quiet guy," he said. "Rookie year, it was even worse. I speak when I can, not a big rah-rah guy, but when I speak, most of the time people listen. That's the way I approach it.
"At the end of last season, in some of my exit meetings the biggest thing for me was to take the leadership role. A lot of times, I was focused on myself getting better – going through the struggles. The next thing for me is to be more vocal, lead by example and help the team in any way I can."
McKinney's selection to captain seems like a logical step for him because of the additional responsibility he assumed this summer. When the starting defense was on the field in practice or preseason games, he became the player who received the calls from coordinator Wink Martindale and relayed them to his teammates. That role is normally reserved for a linebacker, but McKinney was given the green dot on his helmet, signifying the duty was his.
Becoming a captain further authenticates his leadership chops.
"It means a lot," McKinney said. "It's obviously an honor to be voted by my teammates, the guys that I go to work for every day, the guys that I grind with every day. It's always meant a lot to me to become a captain. It says a lot about what my teammates think about me as a person and as a player. It's honoring, I'm happy, but I've got to keep going and keep getting better each day."
Love was gratified and happy to be elected as one of the captains.
"I'm not going to lie, it means an awful lot to me," he said. "I've never been a captain in my entire life, and to do it for the Giants of all places at the highest level, it's hard not to get emotional about it. It's often that I feel like people have always wanted me to be more outspoken, wanted me to be the rah-rah guy, wanted me to be the muscle-head, all that stuff. But this team has appreciated me for staying true to myself. So, I'm extremely grateful."
Perhaps the most unexpected captain is Brown, who did not start any of the 27 games he played in his first two NFL seasons. But he has been a regular contributor on special teams, where he has 15 tackles.
"This means I have to work harder," said Brown, who was a captain at Penn State. "I have to make sure I'm a representative of the team in everything I do. Make sure that every rep I do it reflects what we want as a Giants standard.
"I have to be a leader on and off the field. Be a leader in meetings. Be a leader when guys need questions, when certain things aren't clear, being able to clear it up so everybody doesn't have to go to the coaches. Be that middleman for the coaches on special teams and on defense."
Kreiter had similar sentiments.
"I think the goal is not to be voted a captain, the goal is just to go about your business like you are a leader and a captain," he said. "Whether I got the honor to be one or not, I wasn't going to change the way I do things. And the fact that I'll have a 'C' on the jersey isn't going to change the way I do things. I'm going to continue to help this team, try to bring the young guys along and just make sure we're doing things in the special teams room to help us win games."
Daboll expects to rely heavily on his captains.
"We'll have weekly meetings, and they're the voice of the locker room," he said. "I think that'll encompass a lot of different things. We'll just let it happen organically. That's how we'll approach it."
If he chooses to, Daboll could summon perhaps the NFL's largest contingent for a pregame coin toss.
"But we'll only send out a couple, not all of them," he said.
View the best photos from training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
QB Daniel Jones (8)
Darnay Holmes (30)
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll fist bumps quaterback Daniel Jones (8) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday July 28, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daniel Jones (8)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Kenny Golladay (19)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daniel Jones (8)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Evan Neal (73)
Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
LS Casey Kreiter (58)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
CB Darnay Holmes (30)
David Sills (13)
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 7, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Darnay Holmes
Don Martindale Defensive Coordinator
Julian Love
G Ben Bredeson (68)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
Matt Breida (31)
WR David Sills V (13)
WR David Sills (13)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
RB Matt Breida (31)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
David Sills (13)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Blake Martinez (54)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Angela Baker Offensive Quality Control Coach
Andrew Thomas (78), Azeez Ojulari (51)
Matt Breida (31)
David Sills (13)
Blake Martinez (54)
Daniel Bellinger (45)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Evan Neal (73)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Laura Young Director of Coaching Operations
Matt Breida (31)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
Carl Banks
G Ben Bredeson (68)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Jamie Gillan (17), Graham Gano (9)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
David Sills V (13)
Saquon Barkley (26)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Saquon Barkley (26), Lawrence Cager (81)
RB Matt Breida (31)
Brandon Jacobs talks to team post-practice
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
Justin Ellis (71)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Amani Toomer
WR Kenny Golladay (19), RB Saquon Barkley (26)
Kadarius Toney (89)
Daniel Bellinger (45)
OL Mark Glowinski (64)
P Jamie Gillan (17)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Kadarius Toney (89)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
Tae Crowder (48)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Daniel Jones (8)
Davis Sills (13)
Julian Love (20), Adoree' Jackson (22)
Daniel Jones (8)
Andrew Thomas (78), Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), Daniel Jones (8)
Julian Love (20)
Evan Neal (70), Mark Glowinski (64)
Eli Manning
Tyrod Taylor (2)
David Sills (13)
Head Coach Brian Daboll, Eli Manning,
S Julian Love (20)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
K Graham Gano (9), P Jamie Gillan (17)
Justin Ellis (71)
Jihad Ward (55)
Daniel Bellinger (45)
Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Blake Martinez (54)
Tae Crowder (48)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OT Evan Neal (70)
Daniel Jones (8)
Osi Umenyiora
Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Kenny Golladay (19)
LB Blake Martinez (54)
Darnay Holmes (30)
S Julian Love (20)
Kadarius Toney (89)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Don " Wink" Martindale during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday July 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Saquon Barkley (26)
DT Justin Ellis (71)
Leonard Williams (99)
Daniel Bellinger (45)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a pre-season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
WR Kenny Golladay (19), QB Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26), Micheal Strahan
S Julian Love (20)
DL Leonard Williams (99)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
OL Jon Feliciano (76)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
DL Dexter Lawrence (97)
Saquon Barkley (26)
New York Giants players huddle during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday July 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
T Andrew Thomas (78), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll talks with Osi Umenyiora during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (22) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 7, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
during a pre-season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday July 30, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during a pre-season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)gets blocked by New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 19, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Don Wink Martindale during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offense huddles during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll talks with former NFL coach Bill Cowher during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants' Kadarius Toney (89) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 1, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 1, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll waves to his family following a preseason NFL football game against New England Patriots on Thursday August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, MA
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) carries the ball during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (78) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Jihad Ward (55) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) carries the ball during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday July 28, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll introduce boys from the San Miguel Academy following training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (73) during a preseason NFL football game against New England Patriots on Thursday August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, MA
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during a preseason NFL football game against New England Patriots on Thursday August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, MA
New York Giants linebacker Jihad Ward (55) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday July 28, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants players huddle during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 9, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (89) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday July 29, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 9, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (73) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 9, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 9, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll signals touchdown during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
A look down the line of scrimmage during a joint training camp practice with the New York Jets at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 25, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll fist bumps quaterback Daniel Jones (8) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday July 28, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (89) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (22) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll talks with New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh during a joint training camp practice with the New York Jets at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday August 25, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (70) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive tackle Justin Ellis (71) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (70) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ronnie Barnes during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll watches from the sideline during a pre-season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants' wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday July 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
